The Eight Tribes: Paths Destined to Cross

NAGA (WARRIOR)

CHAPTER 20 (NAGA) First Story

Naga was came out as an extremely big baby who was gifted with exceptional strength. However, he grew up to be a typical happy-go-lucky kid of the fishing village. In a perfect world, he would have turned out to be a simple fisherman.

His childhood was marred by the painful and sad memory of losing his parents at a very early age. Naga was subsequently raised by his grandparents.

Naga’s brute strength enabled him to be an excellent fisherma. One day, he had a bountiful catch and was running happily home to his grandparents. Along the way, he accidentally bumped into someone.

It was an aristocrat passing through their small fishing village. In circumspection, this chance encounter would signal the onset of his misfortunes. The man it seemed possessed some Mantra power.

The force of impact threw the aristocrat into a puddle and in the heat of anger, he gushed out a vicious Mantra. Luckily, Naga’s grandparents arrived just in the nick of time to protect him. They wrapped him around their arms like an eagle enveloping its newborn. A sharp and shrill scream reverberated throughout the entire village. The noise drew out the villagers and when they arrived they saw the aristocrat was muttering to himself. Naga was traumatized by the strange turn of events. Before him, lay the lifeless and charred body of his grandparents.

Alone and orphaned, he grew up with a deep resentment towards the aristocrats. He wanted revenge but he was helpless and weak to enforce his plans.

Soon, he was becoming heavily dependent on alcohol and he became a rude and angry fisherman. He was gradually descending into a downward spiral of alcoholism and hopeless depression.

CHAPTER 21 (NAGA) Second Story

On the anniversary of his grandparents’ demise, he was drinking more than the usual. In his drunken stupor, he decided to put his little fishing boat towards the raging stormy seas.

He was distraught and death was the only recourse for him. His feeling of hopelessness and failure to avenge his grandparents were tearing him apart. Laughter and crying alternately took a hold of him. He was ready to be swallowed by the waves.

Suddenly, he saw something beyond his wildest dreams. In the middle of the sea was an extraordinarily long and gigantic fish. The creature seemed to be speaking to him in his head.

“Do you want to have great powers?”

“Yes!” The drunken Naga shouted back.

“For what means do you intend to use these powers?” The mysterious creature asked.

“For revenge!” was Naga’s curt reply.

“Revenge for what?” the fish asked.

“For the death of my grandparents!” Naga was becoming more agitated.

“Then you shall have those great powers” the fish promised.

All of a sudden, the fished raised its head. The creature was a giant sea snake it turned out. Naga then lapsed into unconsciousness.

The moment Naga opened his eyes, he was already ashore. Everything seemed like one hazy and blurry dream. However, it turned out to be real. From thence on, he became unbelievably strong and powerful.

He was so strong that he could take on the Maras using only his bare hands. He made it his sworn duty to protect the entire village. Naga crafted an enormous sword which he wielded as if it was only a toothpick. The villagers were in complete awe of Naga. They felt as if he could protect the entire village all by himself. Naga was basking in the adulation and found satisfaction in his role. However, this did not change his austere lifestyle. He chose to remain as a simple fisherman.

CHAPTER 22 (NAGA) Third Story

The deluge of victims of the Mara’s attacks flooded into the tiny village. They learned that Naga could protect them from the monstrosity. The clamor was growing louder by the day. Naga wasn’t an ordinary fisherman anymore but a folk hero to the downtrodden.

One day, Naga received a strange message. Someone was looking for him in the temple of Vishnu. He was quite annoyed by the message. Mantra was unfamiliar territory for him and he was reluctant to leave his village.

However, his co-villagers possessed a strong and persistent belief in Vishnu. He had no choice but to leave for the temple and keep his promise.

Naga was dumbfounded when he saw the temple of Vishnu. It turned out to be just a simple and old temple. What struck him the most was the saint of Vishnu he met in the temple. Garuda just gazed at him without uttering a word.

He felt a strange sensation overwhelming him as it was his first time to see a beautiful saint.

“What exactly is my purpose here”? he asked

His manner of asking was rather unpleasant. Tears fell down Garuda’s face. He was perplexed at the recent turn of events. She then spoke slowly.

“You have been chosen.”

“By whom?” he asked.

“By god!”

Thoughts of the giant snake suddenly flashed through his head. He pretended to act nonchalantly.

“Ha! Why will god choose me? Tell me?”

“To safeguard the Tantra world from the Maras.” Garuda disclosed.

He could not fathom the cryptic words coming from Garuda. The idea seemed far-fetched and ridiculous to him yet he was mystified by the whole idea. Garuda appears to have this magnetic hold on Naga. She insisted that he go on a journey with her. They argued over this plan until he finally caved in.

Alright then, I’ll go with you. But don’t you dare think that I believe in the so-called Mantra power, even in saints! If something funny happens, I won’t hesitate to slash you with my sword. If you find my proposition to your liking, I’ll gladly go with you. 

Garuda just forced a weak smile.

“Whatever suits your fancy Naga” she replied.

Thus began the unlikely saga of Garuda and Naga.

As Naga and Garuda were taking a breather in the old temple as they await the arrival of the six, Garuda was showing some sign of strain. Naga spend the entire night guarding her from whatever danger that lurks ahead. He was still at a loss why he was drawn into her mysterious world. He was wondering why he was hesitant to absorb the power of Mantra.

CHAPTER 23 (NAGA) Fourth Story

Just before noontime, DEVA, RAKSHASHA, ASURA, KIMNARA, YAKSA and GANDHARVA started arriving one by one. Garuda was awakened by their coming.

“At last, all of you made it. Thanks for coming” she greeted them.

She sat down and beckoned to them to gather around. This they did without hesitation.

Garuda then started talking in her mystical and soft voice. She proclaimed that she saw the epiphany – they were all especially chosen by god.

She warned that it was not right to fight each other but rather unite to defeat the Maras. Behind all of this mysterious machination was the force known as Cali.

Cali – the arcane secret behind the three gods. They were all taken aback by this sudden revelation. It was a shocking truth that they weren’t prepared to embrace. Someone even went as far as denying the very existence of Cali.

All of a sudden.

Naga stood up and walked into the center of the group. He thrust his sword into the ground and spoke angrily.

“Why are you doubting the saint? If she said so, then it is the truth! Stop this nonsense and listen to her! If she’s lying, then you could all slit my throat!” Naga was furious.

Everyone maintained absolute silence as Naga sat down. He looked at Garuda and said to himself, “I believe in you Garuda, not in the god, in the power of Mantra but in you.”

After what seemed an eternity of silence, Naga spoke up.

“Then what should be our next course of action?”

“From what I heard” Garuda started to speak.

The temple rang as she spoke.

“Go and find Kaustubam. When you find it, seek my aide once more” she explained.

“Kaustubam? What exactly it is?” Kimnara asked.

“It is the key power that will consolidate us with the gods.” was Garuda’s stunning revelation.